lover whose pride, irritated by confidential
wild eulogies of the beautiful woman, had recently clamoured for proofs of his
commandership. The impression she stamped on him at Copsley remained, but it
could not occupy the foreground for ever. He did not object to play second to
her sprightly wits in converse, if he had some warm testimony to his mastery
over her blood. For the world had given her to him, enthusiastic friends had
congratulated him: she had exalted him for true knightliness; and he considered
the proofs well earned, though he did not value them low. They were little by
comparison. They lighted, instead of staining, her unparalleled high character.
    She loved him. Full surely did she love him, or such a woman would never
have consented to brave the world; once in their project of flight, and next,
even more endearingly when contemplated, in the sacrifice of her good name; not
omitting that fervent memory of her pained submission, but a palpitating
submission, to his caress. She was in his arms again at the thought of it. He
had melted her, and won the confession of her senses by a surprise, and he owned
that never had woman been so vigilantly self-guarded or so watchful to keep her
lover amused and aloof. Such a woman deserved long service. But then the long
service deserved its time of harvest. Her surging look of reproach in submission
pointed to the golden time, and as he was a man of honour, pledged to her for
life, he had no remorse, and no scruple in determining to exact her dated
promise, on this occasion deliberately. She was the woman to be his wife; she
was his mind's mate: they had hung apart in deference to mere scruples too long.
During the fierce battle of the Session she would be his help, his fountain of
counsel; and she would be the rosy gauze-veiled more than cold helper and
adviser, the being which would spur her womanly intelligence to acknowledge, on
this occasion deliberately, the wisdom of the step. They had been so close to
it! She might call it madness then: now it was wisdom. Each had complete
experience of the other, and each vowed the step must be taken.
    As to the secret communicated, he exulted in the pardonable cunning of the
impulse turning him back to her house after the guests had gone, and the
dexterous play of his bait on the line, tempting her to guess and quit her
queenly guard. Though it had not been distinctly schemed, the review of it in
that light added to